Reducing the regulatory burden on business

The process and manufacturing sector is an important part of the UK economy, yet unnecessary regulation continues to hamper its competitiveness. Proskills CEO Terry Watts welcomes the government’s plans to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses

July 21, 2011 - PRLog -- The government is asking businesses up and down the country to play their part in reducing bureaucracy by taking part in the red tape challenge, which aims to identify the unnecessary regulation that is holding business back. Over the next three weeks the challenge will focus on the 140 different regulations that businesses deal with on a daily basis; manufacturing minister Mark Prisk says this is an important part of the government’s economic strategy. “Our manufacturing sector is at the centre of our plans to rebalance the economy and promote sustainable private sector growth. That’s why cutting back the bureaucracy and the red-tape that you have to deal with every day is one of my main priorities. I want our manufacturers to be making things, not filling out forms,” he told employers.

The government is asking for feedback from employers on how regulation is affecting their business and which should be scrapped. Terry Watts, CEO of Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector, welcomed the government’s plans. “The process and manufacturing sector plays an important part in the UK economy, supplying goods and services on which many companies depend. However, unnecessary regulation can stifle their ability to compete effectively, so we’re pleased that the government is consulting with employers on how this can be reduced,” he said. “We at Proskills are committed to working with employers and government to raise the profile of the process and manufacturing sector and to helping companies build for the future. Reducing the regulatory burden on business, particularly in the area of skills and people development, is a key part of this wider goal.”

Notes to EditorsProskills GroupProskills UK Group comprises Proskills UK - the Sector Skills Council for Process and Manufacturing Sector and the Proskills Academy.Proskills UK is the bridge between employers and Government on skills and training.Employer-led by nine key industries, Building Products, Coatings, Extractives, Furniture, Glass, Glazed Ceramics, Paper, Print and Wood industries which make a third of the UK manufacturing sector. Proskills UK helps to raise the profile and sets the skills standards and qualifications for the sector and ensures that the skills and funding delivers against the current and future needs of the industries.

# # #

Proskills UK is an employer-led organisation that represents the interests of the industries that make up the process and manufacturing sector to government.